Wavelength-tunable coupled antenna uncooled infrared (IR) sensor
US6310346A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J5/34
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tuned antenna-coupled infrared detector is made possible by application of a bias voltage in the range of a few hundred millivolts. The use of first and second antenna arms connected to the detector makes possible polarization tuning which eliminates the need for bulk-optical polarization filters. An alternative tuned detector is one in which the antenna is frequency tuned by a capacitative device to make the detector particularly responsive to 8 um to 12 um infrared radiation. When integrated into focal plane arrays, these detectors can be used in remote-sensing systems to facilitate enhanced image recognition, feature extraction and image-clutter removal. One preferred version of the polarization tuned antenna has longitudinal metal antenna arms extending outward from an infrared(IR) sensor in a spiral pattern, with polarization tuning devices connected between the antenna arms, and a voltage for controlling the polarization tuning devices, wherein the polarization tuning devices enable real-time control of current distribution in the arms. For the frequency tuned sensors, the embodiment is preferably a microstrip antenna coupled to a bolometer wherein the sensor has a tunable …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.